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Adopt-A-Native Elder Program  The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program exists to create a Bridge of Hope between Native Americans and other cultures. It allows us to reach out to one another, share our gifts, and mend the broken circle of our relationship with the Land and the Native Americans who hold it in sacred trust ... More >> 18th Annual Rug Show, November 8-11, 2007--A Mother's Legacy, The Male Weavers Every year our Rug Show committee puts on a “party” for a handful of our weavers in the Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program in Park City. These Elders travel many hours and long distances to come to Deer Valley. At their age, traveling becomes a challenge, and yet, they eagerly come so that we, the volunteers, are able to honor them and celebrate their hands and what they represent through their weavings. It is important for us to learn from our Elders. They are so gentle, graceful, wise, and sweet-spirited. This is what their hands weave into their rugs. It takes many, many hours sitting at a loom to complete a rug. When you see, touch, and feel a finished rug, a part of you understands and connects with the weaver. It is known that Spider Woman showed the People how to set up a loom and the art of weaving. These artists don’t draw out their designs beforehand. They weave from a vision they form inside their mind. When the warp threads are set up on the loom, the weaving has a set length and set width size, which makes Navajo weaving harder than any other form of weaving. Navajo weaving doesn’t have fringed edges. The weavers in our program are in their 80’s, 90’s, and 100’s. Most have been weaving all their life. This year our theme, A Mother’s Legacy, The Male Weavers, was inspired by one mother who taught her sons to weave. Not only did they truly want to learn this art, but now they are passing down this tradition to their children. Male weavers are becoming more well-known throughout the reservation. There have been many men who before who learned to love to weave. To prepare for this Rug Show, our Rug Show committee read a book about a famous male weaver, Hostiin Clah. Our four male weavers that came this year did very well. Their rugs have a uniquely male spirit about them that draws you in for a closer look and to feel the woven wool in the rug. 
This was our smoothest show that we’ve had! Over 500 rugs were sold by weavers in our program who didn’t come to the Rug Show, that’s in addition to the rugs that were sold for those weavers who came to the show. Monday morning, Linda wrote out many, many checks to all those who came. Each year we have Giveaways the volunteers give to the Elders. This year, on Thursday afternoon, we had a Purse Party for the Elders. It’s like musical chairs, only the purses move, which were filled with the Giveaways, in a circle, while the Elders get to sit down. When a purse stops in front of them, the Elders can either choose to keep it or go another round until they get one they like. Everyone who was a part of this loved it! 
Thursday evening at the Grub Steak Restaurant, we were honored to have accompanying Jay two of his Jaybirds, Running Red Fox and Raven Hawk. It was so generous of these two beautiful women to fly across the country to support and honor Jay and, also, to volunteer the entire weekend. 
During the dinner Thursday evening, it was decided that since last year Jay honored each of the grandmother’s with pictures and by spending time with each of them that this year they each wanted to honor him with their own Giveaway. One by one, each Elder came up to Jay a placed their Giveaway either in a ceremonial basket Jay was holding or around his neck. Watching Jay become speechless, then to feeling humbly honored, was in his own way another way of giving a gift to these Elders. It was a special event to be a part of for everyone in the room.  
Before the Rug Show, I had the honor of being in contact with another Jaybird from Holland, Rosita. She had painted her own interpretation of this year’s theme using acrylic paints and canvas. If any of you have been to Monument Valley, or seen pictures, then you know the famous “mittens” or the famous rock formations photographed there. Rosita had painted these rocks to resemble a loom with a rug on it next to a weaving comb and the other had the face of an Elder with a beautiful blanket wrapped around. In the sky, was painted a portrait of a young Navajo boy. It was very striking to see it in person. We all loved it. 
Rosita’s painting was paired with the items Jay brought for this year’s Friday night auction. Another Jaybird, who also flew across the country to honor Jay, bought this package. Diane’s bid was the highest bid for the entire auction. To Diane, a sincere, heartfelt “thank you.” This year’s auction was our highest selling auction ever. Jay, Running Red Fox, Raven Hawk, and Diane it was such a pleasure to have you all at this year’s Rug Show. You truly each have wonderfully generous, sweet, and beautiful spirits. Thank you and hugs to you all. During and after the show, we were thrilled by the tears you shed in honor of the Elders. This is a sign that the weekend meant something to you. It meant so much to have you all attend. Rosita, thank you again for your contribution. We really did feel honored to have a beautiful artist from far away giving the best kind of Giveaway to the Elders—something from your hands to the hands of the Elders. Next year, hopefully we will see you all come again with more Jaybirds. Also, if any of you want to go on a Foodrun, it is a truly amazing experience that can only be felt in person. Celeste Williams 
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